Alps Mountain Range Facts & Worksheets

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The Latin term “Alpes” may have originated from “albus” (white) or possibly from the Greek goddess Alphito, linked to “alphita” (white flour) and “alphos” (dull-white leprosy). The Alps are a small mountain range in western Europe, 750 miles between Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and Verona, Italy. They are the most noticeable physiographic region in Western Europe and are responsible for significant geographic phenomena.

See the fact file below for more information about the Alps Mountain Range, or you can download our 26-page Alps Mountain Range worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

OVERVIEW

• The Alps divide Mediterranean areas of Europe from marine west-coast climates due to their arc-like form and unique environment. Since the 19th century, factories based on local raw materials have altered the distinctive Alpine pastoral economy. 
• Hydroelectric power development during the late 19th and early 20th centuries led to the construction of electricity-dependent companies in the lower valleys, producing goods like aluminum, chemicals, and specialty steels.

PHYSICAL FEATURES

Geology

• The Alps first appeared around 65 million years ago during the Alpine orogeny, which began when the Mesozoic Era ended. 
• The Alps were once home to a peninsula made of crystalline rocks called Tyrrhenia, flattened by erosion during the Mesozoic period. 
• The Pyrenees and later the Alps were created by folding the thick layers of rock deposited in the Tethys Sea around and up against the crystalline bedrock. 
• The Quaternary Period saw the formation of the Alps due to erosive forces. 
• The Alpine glacier and growing ice tongues further shaped the landscape, creating valleys, waterfalls, and elongated lakes. River downcutting resumed in the lateral and transverse valleys, resulting in lower elevations and peaks. 
• Glaciation changed the environment, making it milder in valleys, easier for settlement and communication, and more fertile soils. Today, the Alps still contain hundreds of square miles of Alpine glaciers, crucial in providing hydroelectricity.

Physiography

• The Alps, a mountain range stretching from the Mediterranean to Vienna, have a variety of elevations and shapes. 
• The Western Alps, a north-trending mountain range, includes the Maritime Alps, Verdon, Mercantour Massif, and Mont Blanc. 
• The Central Alps, consisting of the Rätische range, Dolomite Alps, Tauern Mountains, Julian Alps, and Dinaric Alps, drain to the north and southeast. 
• The highest mountains, such as the Finsteraarhorn massif, are located in the west, while other tall chains include the Monte Rosa Massif and Mont Blanc Nappe. 
• The highest points in the Alps range from 9,718 feet to 12,460 feet, with some of the lowest issues in the Western Alps below the Rhône River delta.

Climate

• The Alps’ diverse climates are influenced by four main factors: Atlantic air, polar air, continental air masses, and Mediterranean air. The location and movement of cyclonic storms and their direction affect daily weather. 
• The physiography of the Alps impacts annual precipitation and temperature extremes. 
• Valley bottoms are warmer and dryer than surrounding heights, with snowfall depths of 10 to 33 feet or more during winter. 
• The average July temperatures range from 59 to 75 °F, while the average January temperatures are between 23 to 39 °F.
• Temperature inversions occur in fall and winter, with areas over 3,300 feet warmer and brighter. Winds can significantly impact microclimate and everyday weather. 
• Avalanches, a destructive natural phenomenon, pose a constant threat from late November to early June. The Alps’ high population density and tens of millions of tourists make it more vulnerable to avalanches than other mountain ranges.

ANIMAL AND PLANT LIFE

• The Alps’ various vegetation zones mirror the ranges in elevation and temperature. While these areas have typically stayed unaltered since the turn of the 20th century, global warming has prompted a higher plant migration. 
• According to estimates from Austrian experts, the maximum height of Alpine plant species increased by roughly three feet over each decade of the 20th century.
• Deciduous tree species like linden, oak, and beech thrive on valley bottoms, while coniferous forests like spruce, larch, and pine dominate at higher elevations.
• Generally speaking, coniferous spruce dominance peaks in the Western Alps at about 7,200 feet. Larch may reach a height of 8,200 feet and are found dotted with spruce at lower altitudes. 
• Larch can better withstand adverse weather conditions such as cold, lack of rainfall, and strong winds.
• Hardy species like the Arolla pine, which typically doesn’t grow below 5,000 feet and can survive for 350–400 years and, in rare circumstances, up to 800 years, can be found in the uppermost edges of the forests.
• Its wood, heavily saturated with resin and decays very slowly, was once sought for use in building chalets. Since there are now so few Arolla pine trees, cutting them down is highly regulated. 
• About 3,000 feet above and below the permanent snow line, there are sections carved by glaciers and occasionally covered in lush Alpine meadows. 
• To lower the upper boundaries of the natural forest, sheep and cows graze there throughout the brief summer. 
• Alpages, mountain pastures above valleys, are threatened by invasive weeds, animal waste pollution, and ski-related development, limiting their carrying capacity.
• Mediterranean vegetation dominates the southern Maritime Alps and southern Italian Alps, featuring maritime pine, palm, sparse woods, agave, and prickly pears.
• Numerous animal species have successfully adapted to the Alpine region. The chamois, which resembles a goat, and the ibex, a wild goat, have fantastic skills ideal for the rocky terrain. Marmots spend the winter in galleries below ground. 
• Mountain hares and ptarmigans, which are grouse, dress in white for the winter. 
• Several national parks between the ranges protect the native flora. 
• Although several species have vanished in the Alpine regions due to rising population pressure, coveted creatures, such as the lynx, brown bear, and bearded vulture (lammergeier), have been successfully reintroduced.

INFLUENCE OF PEOPLE ON THE ALPINE ENVIRONMENT

• The early visitors to the Alps were deeply inspired by its pristine beauty, leading to the region’s popularity. However, increased population and human activity, especially from the mid-20th century, have negatively impacted the Alpine environment. 
• This has resulted in deteriorating air quality, water pollution, noise pollution, erosion, waste disposal issues, and damage to the distinctive terrain and vegetation. 
• Notably, the landscape has transformed with concrete and asphalt in central river valleys and upper lateral valley communities adapting to tourism.
• Humans have inhabited the Alps since the Paleolithic period, with evidence of hunting and artifacts found in various locations.
• Neolithic inhabitants settled in caves and towns after the retreat of Alpine glaciers, while Celts later colonized the region, influencing modern urban centers like Martigny, Aosta, and Grenoble. 
• The Celts established trade routes and were followed by the Romans, who built towns and controlled key Alpine passes. After Roman dominance waned, Germanic tribes and Charlemagne‘s Holy Roman Empire played significant roles.
• During the Middle Ages, the Alps saw isolation and shifting political ties among its valleys. The Industrial Revolution and railways reduced this isolation and improved connectivity through tunnels.

LANGUAGES

• French is spoken in the western Italian area of the Valle d’Aosta and the Swiss cantons of Vaud and Valais in the Western Alps. 
• Although the Valle d’Aosta is ostensibly bilingual, it has yet to stave off the effects of Italianization, and the use of French in daily life is limited to a few of the lateral valleys. Italian is spoken in the Swiss canton of Ticino and the Central and Eastern Italian Alps. 
• The Alto Adige area of Italy, once known as Südtirol before World War I, and the Central and Eastern Alps of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria all speak German. 
• Slovenian is spoken in Slovenia, and the nearby Alpine border regions with Italy and Austria, and there are pockets of Ladin and Friulian people in the Eastern Alps of northeastern Italy. 
• The majority religion in the Alps is Roman Catholicism, but some areas, like the Swiss cantons of Vaud and Bern, have a Protestant majority. 
• The Swiss canton of Graubünden, where around 45% of the population is Protestant and 50% is Catholic, illustrates the diversity of languages and religions in the Alps. 
• German is spoken by approximately 60% of the people, followed by Italian by 15% and Romansh by 20%. 
• The confusion of foreign seasonal workers, without whom the tourism industry, particularly in Switzerland, would fail, is added to the mix of native languages.

ECONOMY

• Although farms have been abandoned, agriculture still thrives in certain areas, such as the Rhône valley in Switzerland, an intensive fruit and vegetable cultivation area with extensive vineyards. 
• The northern Italian region of Alto Adige, Ticino, and the southern Alps are viticultural areas.
• Most agriculture and pastoralism are side businesses or hobby farms in the high valleys.
• The modern Alpine economy consists of mining, quarrying, manufacturing, industries, and tourism. 
• Mining has been significant since Neolithic times and has evolved into a concentrated industrial location.
• The development of hydroelectricity attracted heavy metallurgical and chemical industries, leading to the depopulation of small villages in the lateral valleys.
• Tourism has been the most significant economic change for the Alps since World War II. However, tourism is risky due to high capital investment, short recovery periods, and fierce competition among ski resorts. 
• Winter and summer tourism have injected significant money into the economies of the Alpine nations, benefiting remote villages in the high lateral valleys.

Alps Mountain Range Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Alps Mountain Range across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Alps Mountain Range. The Alps are a small mountain range in western Europe, 750 miles between Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and Verona, Italy. They are the most noticeable physiographic region in Western Europe and are responsible for significant geographic phenomena.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Alps Mountain Range Facts
2. Six Regions
3. Flora and Fauna
4. Watch then answer
5. True or False?
6. Mythical Story
7. Life in the Alps
8. Cheese Making
9. Infographic
10. Make a Change
11. Diorama

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the Alps located?

The Alps are a major mountain range in Europe. They stretch across several countries, including France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, and Monaco.

What is the highest peak in the Alps?

The highest peak in the Alps is Mont Blanc, which stands at an elevation of 4,808.7 meters (15,777 feet) above sea level. It is located on the border between France and Italy.

What is the geological history of the Alps?

The formation of the Alps is the result of the collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. This collision began around 30 million years ago and continues to this day, resulting in the uplift and folding of the Earth’s crust to form the mountain range.

What is the significance of the Alps in terms of tourism and outdoor activities?

The Alps are a popular destination for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. They offer opportunities for activities such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking, mountaineering, and mountain biking. The region’s scenic beauty, charming villages, and cultural heritage also attract visitors year-round.

How do the Alps contribute to the region’s climate and environment?

The Alps play a crucial role in influencing the climate of surrounding areas. They act as a barrier, blocking the movement of moist air from the Mediterranean, leading to a rain shadow effect on the northern side. This results in a diverse range of climates, from Mediterranean to alpine. Additionally, the Alps are important for biodiversity and provide habitats for various plant and animal species, some of which are unique to the region.

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Link will appear as Alps Mountain Range Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 8, 2023